Sir David Attenborough commends conservation efforts in East Anglia

Renowned for its outstanding natural beauty, East Anglia is home to the best nature reserves and walking routes in the UK, making it a paradise for any nature-lovers visiting our holiday parks in East Anglia. It has also been recognised for the region’s efforts to maintain their wildlife and habitats in the light of a major new audit of the UK’s natural environment that has revealed a continued decline in British wildlife.Sir David Attenborough has recently commented that nature is in serious trouble in the UK, but has praised the conservation efforts in East Anglia to preserve it. The report shows how East Anglia is vitally important in maintaining Britain’s nature due to its unwavering efforts to conserve it.

A vast and wide range of conservation projects are underway in the region by organisations, land owners and land managers.

Sir David Attenborough, a highly respected and globally recognised ambassador of the natural world and statesman of UK natural history, has recently released a report based on the evaluation of the health of the UK’s wildlife. Attenborough introduced the State of Nature 2016 report at the Royal Society’s London headquarters, a report that compiled the impressive and extensive work of more than 50 leading wildlife and research organisations including RSPB, the National Trust and The Wildlife Trusts. The report carries a motivating message for the UK that in the light of declines it is never too late to “save nature - but we must act now”.

The members have concluded that Eastern England is home to large proportions of the UK’s richest wildlife habitats. This is inclusive of 80% of the nation’s fenland, 50% of the nation’s reedbed, 31% of the saltmarsh and 22% of the UK’s estuaries. This makes East Anglia a vital habitat for many of the UK’s most vulnerable wildlife species.

The turtle dove has consistently remained stable in the region in light of its national decline, with 60% of the UK population found in the East. Meanwhile, swallowtail butterflies can only be found in the Norfolk Broads, which is also home to the rare fen orchid with 90% of the UK’s population.

Conservation projects that are currently progressing in East Anglia are the reintroduction of the fen raft spider to the Suffolk Broads and stone-curlews breeding projects, as well as partnerships with industries to create new areas for wildlife habitats.

Reflecting on the evaluations of the report Attenborough said: “The rallying call issued after the State of Nature report in 2013 has promoted exciting and innovative conservation projects. Landscapes are being restored, special places defended, struggling species being saved and brought back. But we need to build significantly on this progress if we are to provide a bright future for nature and for people”.

John Shape, RSPB’s conservation manager for the East, added: “The Eastern region is one of the last remaining strongholds for species like the turtle dove, nightingale and fen orchid. Without our help, they could disappear from the UK forever… We can be extremely proud of the conservation work taking place in this region thanks to passionate individuals and innovative partnerships. Through targeted initiatives we have shown that it is possible to protect nature for future generations, and already we have seen significant reversals of the decline in creatures…”.

He also added: “It is crucial that conservationists, alongside landowners and managers in the region, maintain a strong commitment to nature if we want to ensure that the East remains one of the most wildlife-rich landscapes in the UK.”